My Love Rivals Have All Reborn - Chapter 22

Travelling with Xie Yu never led to anything good. She encountered assassination attempts every few days, showing how poor Xie Yu’s relationships were and how many people wanted her dead.

The arrow grazed her cheek, an extremely close call.

The few assassins outside were charging towards the carriage but were cut down by Bi Shu before they could get close. In terms of skill and agility, Bi Shu even surpassed Nong Qin.

Truly, tigers lurked around Xie Yu.

Xiao Kuning was curious about Yu Yin’s death and even more shocked by Bi Shu’s martial arts. Amidst her surprise, the assassins had all been executed. The sounds of fighting had stopped, and Xie Yu lowered herself to pick up the document, instructing her people: “There is no need to leave any survivors.”

“Why not leave any?” Xiao Kuning didn’t understand. This was the time to pry open the assassins’ mouths. Why not ask?

A clear scratch was visible on Xie Yu’s cheek. Although not deep, leaving a mark on a woman’s face, regardless of its depth, was not a good thing.

Xiao Kuning, while secretly rejoicing, feigned worry. Xie Yu glanced at her: “If you want to laugh, just laugh. No one is stopping you.”

Xiao Kuning quickly waved her hand: “Master is injured. How could a student laugh? I would never be ungrateful.”

Xie Yu sneered, not believing her words at all.

Feeling a sudden chill, Xiao Kuning reached into her sleeve pocket and after a long search, pulled out a handkerchief. She diligently wiped the blood from Xie Yu’s face, her voice as sweet as honey: “The student is infinitely grateful to the Master for saving her.”

Xie Yu avoided her touch, and her lips curved into a sneer: “If you wipe it like that, you’ll create a wound where there wasn’t one.”

Bi Shu walked over then, tapped on the carriage, and reported: “Master, the assassins have all been executed.”

Xie Yu’s expression was unchanged. She said, “Send the bodies to the Jingzhao Yin. Order him to find the killer.”

This move completely confused Xiao Kuning. How could they investigate without any living evidence? Xie Yu’s thinking was so unusual. She wanted to ask but felt awkward, so she quietly shut her mouth.

Meanwhile, the coachman drove the carriage towards the street. The bloodstain on Xie Yu’s face gradually congealed. The surrounding pale skin made the mark look frightening, and upon closer inspection, the blood appeared purplish.

Xiao Kuning looked closer, realizing something was wrong. She instinctively leaned towards her. Xie Yu’s cold face suddenly loomed large. Her dense, long eyelashes were gently lowered, concealing the brilliance in her eyes. Xiao Kuning gasped. Although she always wished Xie Yu would die, she never imagined Xie Yu would be poisoned while saving her. “Master, the arrow seems to be poisoned.”

“I know,” Xie Yu said. She didn’t resist Xiao Kuning’s proximity. The girl carried a delicate and elegant fragrance that Xie Yu found quite pleasant.

The carriage stopped. Bi Shu said, “Master, we have arrived.”

The curtain was pulled back to reveal the Su Family Pharmacy.

Xiao Kuning stepped out of the carriage first. She was so nervous that she reached out to support Xie Yu behind her.

In broad daylight, pedestrians stopped to watch. Xiao Kuning was bright and beautiful, looking quite eye-catching outside the pharmacy. Then, a woman of even more stunning beauty stepped out of the carriage.

The pedestrians did not know their identities but could tell they were from wealthy families by their lavish clothing.

Su Ying of the Su Family Pharmacy lifted her skirt and walked out. She was not a stranger to Xie Yu, but she was surprised to see Xiao Kuning in an apricot-colored dress: “Miss Xiao.”

Miss Xiao looked up at the sound, seeing a woman who seemed to have walked out of a misty rain, smiling sweetly. Her willow-leaf eyebrows were beautiful, and she resembled a lotus emerging from water—a restrained beauty. Xiao Kuning did not recall meeting her: “You know me?”

Su Ying smiled and said, “I heard Master Xie mention you.”

With that, she looked at Xie Yu. Upon seeing the wound on her face, her eyes trembled, and she joked: “Even you have times when you are at a disadvantage. Very good. The consultation fee is doubled.”

Based on their tone, the two had a close relationship. Xiao Kuning racked her brain but couldn’t guess her identity. She watched as Su Ying led Xie Yu into the pharmacy, instructing the apprentices on both sides: “Close the shop for the day.” She then turned to Xie Yu and said, “I’ll count the losses on your head. I trust Master Xie won’t be stingy upon waking up. After all, your appearance is ruined. What will you use to pursue that little girl? I even think the little girl’s looks are more beautiful than yours. Then again, she is in her prime, and you are getting old day by day.”

These light words completely silenced Xie Yu. As Xiao Kuning marveled, she couldn’t help but be curious about the relationship between the two and the “little girl” Su Ying mentioned, who seemed to have a story.

Xie Yu pursuing a little girl?

What a joke! Judging by her face, she was destined to be lonely in old age.

After everyone entered the pharmacy, the apprentices closed the door. Bi Shu knocked from outside: “Master, Master!”

Xie Yu ignored her. Su Ying reached out to take Xie Yu’s pulse, her expression solemn. Hearing the noise outside, she asked, “Who is she? I’ve never seen her.”

After the door was closed, the light inside the room dimmed. The wound on Xie Yu’s face looked even more gruesome, horrifying to behold.

Su Ying didn’t wait for an answer and stopped asking. She only said, “Have you found out about Yu Yin’s death?”

Xiao Kuning found it strange. Why wasn’t this female doctor avoiding suspicion? She asked such a crucial question in front of her. Did she consider her an insider?

Su Ying frowned tightly after examining the pulse. “The poison can be cured, but it will take time. You need to stay here for a month. As for Miss Xiao, she must also stay. She will need to look after you until Nong Qin returns.”

“Me look after her?” Xiao Kuning resisted. She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to resist secretly poisoning her food. That would be difficult to deal with. She refused: “A major event has happened at my residence. I need to go back.”

Su Ying’s eyes twitched. “Is any matter more important than Master Xie’s life?”

Xiao Kuning was about to retort, but Su Ying stood up, pulled her aside, and spoke quietly: “Master Xie’s illness is a bit difficult to treat.”

“Difficult to treat?” Xiao Kuning didn’t understand the meaning of that. What was difficult to treat? “Is the poison hard to neutralize?”

“It’s easy to neutralize, but it takes time and is quite taxing. Master Xie is simple-minded and wealthy. Why don’t you just accept her silver?” Su Ying suggested.

Accept Xie Yu’s silver? Xiao Kuning shook her head, unwilling. She wanted to stay far away from Xie Yu: “Bi Shu can do it outside.”

Su Ying composed herself: “I’ve known Master Xie for many years, and I’ve never seen Bi Shu.”

That sentence was very subtle. Xiao Kuning sensed something—Bi Shu was suspicious. She took the opportunity to ask: “How did Yu Yin die?”

“I don’t know. Ask Master Xie yourself. I’ll take it that you’ve agreed. I’m going to prepare the medicine for Xie Yu now.” Su Ying ignored Xiao Kuning’s reluctance, walked over to Xie Yu, and spoke a few important words to her.

Xie Yu’s expression changed. She ordered the apprentice to open the door. Bi Shu almost rushed in, looking slightly dissatisfied, but dared not act rashly in front of her.

Xie Yu borrowed a brush and ink from Su Ying. As she began to write, she instructed Bi Shu: “The Xie Residence is closed to all visitors. Do not see anyone. Also, Xue Fang is dead. The Jingzhao Yin will investigate. You are not allowed to interfere. For the Empress Dowager’s birthday, you must personally deliver the gift to the palace. Do not entrust it to anyone else. Give this letter to His Highness Prince of Gaoyang upon your return.”

Bi Shu nodded. She glanced at Xiao Kuning out of the corner of her eye, then lowered her gaze, took the letter, and left.

As she left, Xie Yu continued writing quickly, pen strokes never stopping. She rapidly wrote two more letters. Her deep eyes never lifted, and a severe chill unconsciously rose up around her. Su Ying turned to the counter to dispense the medicine, and the apprentice busied himself behind her.

Xiao Kuning stood alone, observing Xie Yu’s serious demeanor. She thought of the Prince of Zhennan’s residence. Would Shen Rui leave Chang’an to attend the funeral?

Looking at the sun outside, it was already near noon. If Shen Rui was leaving, she would definitely have gone to the Xiao Residence to look for her.

She felt anxious, yet Xie Yu remained calm and composed. The disparity between them was instantly obvious.

Xiao Kuning felt immensely self-contemptuous.

Su Ying’s eyebrows were gentle. She personally prepared the medicine. Xie Yu concentrated on writing the letters, her mountainsque eyebrows not moving at all. After a long while, she finished writing. The letters were divided into two, sealed in envelopes, and handed to Su Ying: “I apologize for the trouble.”

The envelopes were clearly addressed: one to Shen Rui, the County Princess of the Prince of Zhennan’s residence, and one to Xiao Mingwang, Xiao Kuning’s father.

Su Ying smiled and agreed, tucking the letters into her sleeve. She showed Xiao Kuning a brilliant smile: “Miss Xiao, how about moving to my residence?”

“Your residence?” Xiao Kuning didn’t understand. Could they not stay at the Xie Residence?

Su Ying smiled radiantly: “You know it. It’s the Hengxiang Pavilion, right across from your Moxiang Study. I am Madam Gu.”

Xiao Kuning: “…” Gu Ning’s wife?

Gu Ning was a prominent figure, not to mention the sensational things she had done, which were unforgettable. Who casually fixated on her own cousin?

She not only fixated on her but also abducted her from Jiangnan, fighting her way up in Chang’an City with her bare hands. In the words of her adoptive mother, Zhao Xiran, she was “troublesome.”

The troublesome Gu Ning.

Behind the Hengxiang Pavilion was a three-courtyard residence. The main gate faced east, and the back gate opened directly into the Hengxiang Pavilion, making entry and exit very convenient.

Staying in the Hengxiang Pavilion was not as good as staying in the Moxiang Study. Xiao Kuning knew she couldn’t escape, so she ‘invited’ Xie Yu to stay at the Moxiang Study instead. Su Ying did not object, ordering the apprentice to move the prepared medicine to the Moxiang Study.

The Moxiang Study had just received a new batch of fine qin. Zhao Xiran had eagerly sent them over. After all, Xiao Kuning had sold twenty qin as soon as she took over. Although the silver was pocketed by her, Zhao Xiran didn’t care; as long as she could make money, that was fine.

There were four or five guest rooms in the back courtyard. Xiao Kuning sent people back to the residence to fetch her clothes. No one should be paying attention to her now.

Xie Yu, on the other hand, was accepting of her circumstances. After entering the room, she lay down. It was Su Ying who looked around the environment and immediately gave Xiao Kuning advice: “Remember not to argue with Xie Yu. You must coax her.”

“Coax her?” Xiao Kuning was utterly shocked. In half a day, she had heard of three deaths. The world was fleeting and sorrowful. She didn’t know how to cope. Now she had to coax Xie Yu? She might as well smash her head against a wall and die.

Su Ying’s clear eyes stared at Xie Yu’s room: “How did she get hurt?”

Xiao Kuning felt a wave of annoyance: “She blocked it for me.”

Su Ying suddenly understood. No wonder Xie Yu had suffered a loss. It was indeed beauty that misled people. She said, “Then you didn’t lose out. Remember to coax her. I’m right across the street. Call me if anything happens. Make sure she takes the medicine first.”

Xiao Kuning felt confused. As soon as Su Ying left, she wanted to go see Shen Rui. After much thought, she sent a message for Shen Rui to come and see her.

The Moxiang Study’s servant returned from the Prince of Zhennan’s Residence half an hour later. The County Princess had already departed early this morning.

They had completely missed each other. She would have to wait until Shen Rui returned.

It was long past lunchtime. She had someone send some food to Xie Yu. She ate a few quick bites herself and then went upstairs to check the accounts.

By the time she finished checking, it was already dusk. Rubbing her shoulders, she went downstairs and passed Xie Yu’s room. Remembering the poison in her system, she chose to knock on the door.

No one responded.

She raised her hand and knocked again, and a loud crash echoed from inside.

Xiao Kuning’s expression changed at the sound. Without waiting for a response, she pushed the door open. In the dim light, a girl was kneeling by the bed, her slender figure picking up fragments from the floor.

The loud noise had likely been the small table by the bed falling over. The food on the table had also crashed down. Xie Yu was frantically picking up the fragments on the floor. Her fingertips were cut by the pieces, and blood dripped onto the food, making the translucent rice grains look strikingly red.

Xiao Kuning had never seen such a panicked Xie Yu. She froze at the doorway, just watching her porcelain-white face.

“Remember not to argue with Xie Yu. You must coax her.”

“Remember to coax her.”

She suddenly understood. She hurried forward and squatted down in front of Xie Yu: “Who are you?”

Could Xie Yu have gone foolish?

Xie Yu hid her bleeding fingers behind her back. Her eyes were clear, and she looked blankly at the person opposite her: “Xie Yu.”

Xiao Kuning patted her chest. Thank goodness, she wasn’t foolish.

Xie Yu spoke again in a clear voice: “Who is Jiejie (Sister)?”

Xiao Kuning: “…” How did she become “Sister”?